The Year in Music - 1984 The Year in Music - 1984 Frankie Goes to Hollywood performs; the Footloose soundtrack; Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson 1984 marked the high watermark of the "New Music" of the Eighties (see 1983-The Year in Music), and the British invasion was still a force to be reckoned with. In March, 24 of the Top 50 singles in the U.S. were by British acts. It was also a year when soundtracks produced one big hit after another; the Footloose soundtrack was the biggest of these, with Kenny Loggins, Deniece Williams, and the duo of Mike Reno and Ann Wilson all having Top Ten hits off the album. Prince scored several hits, and reached the pinnacle of his career, with songs from the Purple Rain soundtrack, and Ray Parker, Jr. enjoyed a #1 hit with the theme from Ghostbusters -- as well as a plagiarism lawsuit filed by Huey Lewis and the News.

Tina Turner made the biggest comeback in rock history, Madonna introduced herself in her first (but certainly not last) incarnation as a "boy toy," and Phil Collins and Steve Perry -- of Genesis and Journey respectively -- discovered just how successful you could be in a solo career if you followed a few simple guidelines: make your music danceable and MTV-compatible. Critics, of course, deplored the paucity of "message" in the New Music, and many blamed video. But there could be no denying that the music industry, suffering so grievously in the late Seventies, was healthy again. And even people like Bruce Springsteen and Hall and Oates, while initially scornful of video's importance to their careers, jumped on the bandwagon -- and profited greatly for the compromise. Reggae entered the mainstream, thanks in no small part to UB40's Labour of Love, and a growing infatuation in white suburbia accounted for a steady stream of Bob Marley albums, singles, videos and books. Electro-pop insinuated itself into every genre, making itself indispensible to artists as diverse as Earth, Wind & Fire to New Order.

In fact, in many respects, electro took over soul music and invigorated rap. Just ask deejay-rapper Afrika Bambaata. The Thompson Twins proved you could make some really good music with nothing but high-tech equipment. It seemed like everyone was employing the beatbox and the synth -- even Dr. John ("Jet Set"). Electro continued to stir controversy, as old-fashioned sorts persisted in their belief that the Oberheim DMX and other electronic contraptions betrayed music because anybody could make music with them. As though there was something inherently wrong with that. As controversial as electro remained, the biggest controversy of the year surrounded Frankie Goes To Hollywood, who dared address the twin taboos of sex and politics with their monster hits "Relax" and "Two Tribes." The video for the former was banned in Britain because it dealt with gay sex -- insuring that the single would zoom to #1. The latter stayed at the #1 spot for nine weeks and went gold in seven days. The lesson: even a group of moderately talented fellows producing average material could soar to superstardom if they were willing to be just a little outrageous and iconoclastic. A mirror of the times, music had become awfully conservative.

This was nowhere more evident than in country-and-western, where the most unusual thing to happen was that Willie Nelson teamed up with Spanish crooner Julio Iglesias for a hit single. C&W was never more homogenized; The Osmonds went country, Vegas lounge singer Lee Greenwood was named Best Male Singer and Slim Whitman was all the rage in Britain. Before the decade was out, however, country music would be fundamentally changed. On the business end of things, this was the year when the record companies began to rethink giving away videos as free promotional material, and starting thinking of them as a mean to make a profit. MTV cut deals with several major labels, paying out millions for exclusive rights to videos. Nonetheless, MTV showed a profit for the first time in the first quarter of '84. Other entities showed profits, some tremendous. CBS enjoyed a 500% increase in profits. Industry-wide, the number of albums certified gold was up 25% over the previous year. Cassette sales outstripped LPs. On the legal front, a lower court ruled that the Federal Trade Commission failed to prove that the proposed merger of Warner's and Polygram's domestic record operations was an anti-trust violation.

The merger would concentrate 26% of the American record market under a single joint venture. Notable Events of the Year Bob Geldorf orchestrates a gathering of rock stars called Band Aid to record "Do They Know It's Christmas," the proceeds from which will go towards famine relief in Ethiopia. The song debuted at #1 in the UK (November), and two weeks later made the top of the US chart. Written by Geldorf, the song would eventually sell 50 million copies. Among those who performed: Bananarama, Culture Club, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Heaven 17, Kool and the Gang, Paul McCartney, Paul Young, Phil Collins, Sting, U2 and Wham! Michael Jackson's Thriller, having sold 30 million units (so far) and a record-breaking 32 weeks at the top of the album chart, earns the artist a record eight Grammy Awards and seven American Music Awards. On 26 January, Michael's hair catches on fire while he's filming a Pepsi commercial; the artist suffers second-degree burns. The Jacksons' Victory tour is the biggest grossing road show of the year.

Michael Jackson earned $5 million -- and gave all of it to charity. Meanwhile Bruce Springsteen's Born In The USA tour visited 61 cities in 11 countries -- and was seen by 4.7 million fans. Britain's first cable TV channel, Sky Channel, begins operations in January. And, while on the subject of the UK, "Relax" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood becomes Britain's bestselling single of the 1980s. The song's 43-week chart run would be the longest since Englebert Humperdinck's "Release Me" in 1967-68. The band's debut album, Welcome To The Pleasuredome, set a new record of over one million advance orders and entered the UK chart at #1. After spending eight years in a stroke-induced coma, soul great Jackie Wilson dies, age 49. Other deaths in 1984: blues singers Big Mama Thornton and Alberta Hunter, country legend Ernest Tubb, R&B's Z.Z. Hill, jazz band leader Count Basie (79), bluegrass picker Don Reno ("Dueling Banjos"), age 58, and songwriter Meredith Wilson.

Ethel Merman dies at 75. Soul superstar Marvin Gaye is shot to death by his father, a retired minister, during a family argument. ZZ Top bassist Dusty Hill accidentally shoots himself in the abdomen with a .38 caliber pistol, but survives. The Official Music of the XXIII Olympiad: Los Angeles 1984 LP featured Loverboy, Foreigner, Toto, and composer John Williams Top Ten Singles 1. "Owner Of A Lonely Heart," Yes 2. "Say Say Say," Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson 3. "Talking In Your Sleep," Romantics 4. "Break My Stride," Matthew Wilder 5. "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues," Elton John 6. "Twist Of Fate," Olivia Newton-John 7. "Karma Chameleon," Culture Club 8. "Say It Isn't So," Hall and Oates 9. "Union Of The Snake," Duran Duran 10. "Running With The Night," Lionel Richie February 1. "Karma Chameleon," Culture Club 2. "Joanna," Kool & The Gang 3. "Jump," Van Halen 4.

"Talking In Your Sleep," Romantics 5. "That's All!," Genesis 6. "Owner Of A Lonely Heart," Genesis 7. "99 Luftballons," Nena 8. "Running With The Night," Lionel Richie 9. "Let The Music Play," Shannon 10. "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," Cyndi Lauper March 2. "Somebody's Watching Me," Rockwell 3. "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," Cyndi Lauper 4. "99 Luftballons," Nena 6. "Here Comes The Rain Again," Eurythmics 7. "I Want A New Drug," Huey Lewis & The News 8. "Thriller," Michael Jackson 9. "Nobody Told Me," John Lennon 10. "Automatic," Pointer Sisters 2. "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)," Phil Collins 3. "Hello," Lionel Richie 4. "Somebody's Watching Me," Rockwell 5. "Miss Me Blind," Culture Club 6. "Automatic," Pointer Sisters 7. "Hold Me Now," Thompson Twins 8.

"Here Comes The Rain Again," Eurythmics 9. "Adult Education" Hall and Oates 10. "Love Somebody," Rick Springfield May 2. "Let's Hear It For The Boy," Deniece Williams 3. "Hold Me Now," Thompson Twins 4. "To All The Girls I've Loved Before," Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson 5. "Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)," Phil Collins 6. "Love Somebody," Rick Springfield 7. "Time After Time," Cyndi Lauper 8. "Oh, Sherrie," Steve Perry 9. "You Might Think," Cars 10. Footloose," Kenny Loggins 1. "Time After Time," Cyndi Lauper 2. "The Reflex," Duran Duran 3. "Let's Hear It For The Boy," Deniece Williams 4. "Oh, Sherrie," Steve Perry 5. "The Heart Of Rock 'n' Roll," Huey Lewis & The News 6. "Self Control," Laura Branigan 7. "Jump (For My Love)," Pointer Sisters 8. "Dancing In The Dark," Bruce Springsteen 9.

"Sister Christian," Night Ranger 10. "Borderline," Madonna 1. "When Doves Cry," Prince 2. "Dancing In The Dark," Bruce Springsteen 3. "Eyes Without A Face," Billy Idol 4. "Jump (For My Love)," Pointer Sisters 5. "Ghostbusters," Ray Parker, Jr. 6. "Almost Paradise - Love Theme From Footloose," Mike Reno & Ann Wilson 7. "Legs," ZZ Top 9. "Self Control," Laura Branigan 10. "The Reflex," Duran Duran August 1. "Ghostbusters," Ray Parker, Jr. 2. "When Doves Cry," Prince 3. "What's Love Got To Do With It," Tina Turner 4. "State Of Shock," Jacksons 5. "Stuck On You," Lionel Richie 6. "I Can Dream About You," Dan Hartman 7. "Sad Songs (Say So Much)," Elton John 8. "Dancing In The Dark," Bruce Springsteen 9. "Sunglasses At Night," Corey Hart 10. "Missing You," John Waite September 1. "Missing You," John Waite 2.

"What's Love Got To Do With It," Tina Turner 3. "She Bop," Cyndi Lauper 4. "Let's Go Crazy," Prince 5. "Drive," Cars 6. "If This Is It," Huey Lewis & The News 7. "The Warrior," Scandal featuring Patty Smyth 8. "Stuck On You," Lionel Richie 9. "Ghostbusters," Ray Parker, Jr. 10. "The Glamorous Life," Sheila E October 1. "I Just Called To Say I Love You," Stevie Wonder 2. ""Let's Go Crazy," Prince & The Revolution 3. "Hard Habit To Break," Chicago 4. "Caribbean Queen," Billy Ocean 5. "Lucky Star," Madonna 7. "Cover Me," Bruce Springsteen 8. "On The Dark Side," John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band 9. "Missing You," John Waite 10. "I'm So Excited," Pointer Sisters November 1. "Purple Rain," Prince & The Revolution 2. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," Wham! 3. "Caribbean Queen," Billy Ocean 4.

"I Just Called To Say I Love You," Stevie Wonder 5. "Out Of Touch," Hall and Oates 6. "Better Be Good To Me," Tina Turner 7. "I Feel For You," Chaka Khan 8. "Strut," Sheena Easton 9. "Blue Jean," David Bowie 10. "Hard Habit To Break," Chicago December 1. "Out Of Touch," Hall and Oates 2. "The Wild Boys," Duran Duran 3. "I Feel For You," Chaka Khan 4. "Sea Of Love," Honeydrippers 5. "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," Wham! 6. "Like A Virgin," Madonna 7. "No More Lonely Nights," Paul McCartney 8. "Cool It Now," New Edition 9. "We Belong," Pat Benatar 10.

"All Through The Night," Cyndi Lauper Albums of the Year Building the Perfect Beast, Don Henley; Sports, Huey Lewis & The News; Like A Virgin, Madonna Building the Perfect Beast, Don Henley (Geffen) The '70s supergroup The Eagles broke up as the Eighties dawned, and while band member Glenn Frey embarked on a safe (and profitable) commercial path, drummer Don Henley did it differently. Throughout the 1980s he worked deliberately, painstakingly, to craft music with meaning, releasing only three solo albums during the decade. Building the Perfect Beast remains his most enduring classic.

Aided by Danny Kortchmar (who wrote nine of the ten tracks on the album), Henley heroically carried the mantle of the Eagles with dignity and breathtaking skill as he forged a sound by fusing electronic and rock, creating in the opinion of many one of the ultimate albums of the '80s, complete with sometimes searing sociopolitical indictments, yet all cloaked in irresistible music, the prime examples of which are "Boys Of Summer," "Sunset Grill," and "All She Wants To Do Is Dance." The album was released in November 1984; the singles dominated the charts in early 1985. Sports, Huey Lewis and the News (Chrysalis) This Marin County, California group, formed in 1980, had a Top 10 hit with "Do You Believe In Love" from their previous album, but it wasn't until the release of Sports that they became superstars.

This album, a perfectly easygoing rock-soul fusion, produced four consecutive Top 10 hits, including "The Heart of Rock 'n' Roll," "If This Is It," and "I Want A New Drug." Though Huey Lewis and the News would not have their first #1 until 1985 -- "Power of Love" from the hit movie Back To The Future --it was Sports that proved to be the band's highwater mark, and its defining moment as the chief purveyors of a pop-rock-soul sound that appealed to music fans across a broad spectrum. Like A Virgin, Madonna (Sire) 1983's self-titled debut album introduced Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone to the music world, and produced several hits that hovered in the Top 10 realm of the charts throughout the early part of 1984 -- hits like "Borderline" and "Lucky Star." But it was her second platter, Like A Virgin, released in November 1984, that would establish Madonna as a superstar, and that there was a lot more behind the boytoy image.

This albums singles wouldn't dominate the charts until 1985; "LIke A Virgin" would hit the top on December 22, 1984 and stay there for six weeks, and "Material Girl" would do nearly as well a few months later. In fact, it wasn't until a year after release that Like A Virgin would hit the top of the album chart. But that was indicative of Madonna's remarkable staying power. Purple Rain, Prince and the Revolution (Warner Bros.) Those who dismissed this album, initially, as a film soundtrack were in for a big surprise. It was, in fact, Prince's most brilliant and cohesive work, his (and the Revolution's) finest hour, an almost instant classic that would showcase the artist's genius as no other album before or since. Though Prince had a clear vision of the film by the same name, and theoretically wrote all the tracks with that vision in mind, the songs stand independently of the film, and five of them were hit singles, with a couple of #1's: "When Doves Cry" and "Let's Go Crazy." The album would eventually sell 14 million units, and to no one's surprise.

It was his masterpiece, and everyone, including Prince, could tell. Ironically, while Prince downplayed the overt sexuality inherent on past records, it was the lyrics of a song in this collection, "Darling Nikki," that inspired Tipper Gore to form the Parents Music Resource Center that agitated for warning labels on music. Run D.M.C., Run D.M.C. (Profile) The raw and innovative sound of nineteen-year-old rappers Run (Joseph Simmons), D.M.C. (Darryl McDaniels) and DJ Jam Master Jay (Jason Mizell) did for rap what Van Halen's Jump did for metal -- it made it accessible to mainstream music listeners. And it did it by blending styles; the influential hit "Rock Box" ends with a blazing heavy-metal guitar piece by Eddie Martinez. This hugely successful rap-metal fusion would lead to greater things -- Run D.M.C.'s own remake of "Walk This Way" with Aerosmith, not to mention The Beastie Boys' "Fight for Your Right to Party" and Tone-Loc's "Wild Thing." "Rock Box" was also MTV's first rap video.

In so many ways, this album proved that rap with positive messages and innovative absorbtion of other musical styles, could have broad appeal. The Smiths, The Smiths (Sire) The Smith's debut album entered the UK charts at the #2 spot -- and did it without benefit of a major label, a video, or much promotion to speak of. The reason for this success was simple enough; guitarist Johnny Marr and singer/songwriter Morrissey discovered a recipe for success, a commercial sound, as epitomized by the hit single "This Charming Man," fused with uncompromising lyrics arising from their indie roots. The album became an alternative radio favorite in the U.S. and rightly so, and The Smiths proved that even in the mid-Eighties there was a place for a band that rejected the "chart group" mentality and did things differently. Born In The USA, Bruce Springsteen (Columbia) Ten years after his classic Born To Run, and in the wake of his spare, solo Nebraska effort, the Boss reunited with the E Street Band to produce a rock album that produced seven Top 10 singles and made The Boss an American icon in the process.

Seven of the tracks -- including "Born In The USA" -- were actually written and/or recorded prior to 1982's Nebraska. New songs were recorded but most, with the exceptions of "My Hometown" and "Dancing In The Dark," were discarded. The campaigns of both 1984 presidential candidates misinterpreted and exploited the title track; though wrapped in mainstream rock, these songs were tough and sometimes bitter condemnations of everything The Boss thought was wrong with American politics and society. Private Dancer, Tina Turner (MCA) Described by Rolling Stone as probably the greatest comeback album of the decade, Private Dancer went multi-platinum, reaffirmed Turner's place in the rock pantheon, and was a perfect example of the genre-blending style of Eighties music.

The #1 hit "What's Love Got To Do With It" was built on a reggae foundation, "I Can't Stop The Rain" was electro-pop at its best, and Jeff Beck backed Turner on rock tunes like "Steel Claw." The album's opening track, "I Might Have Been Queen," penned by Jeanette Obstoj, is based on Turner's life story as related by the artist to producer Rupert Hine, and is as autobiographical as any song could be. 1984, Van Halen (Warner Bros.) This metal band featuring flamboyant front man David Lee Roth, guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen, drummer Alex Van Halen and bassist Michael Anthony had been one of the hottest live acts for almost a decade. Prior to Jump, they'd generally cut albums to augment their road show reputation. This time, though, they were bored with the same old stuff, and took their time, learning how to mesh the new synth-pop sound very much in vogue in the mid-Eighties with their raucous guitar-based rock. The end result, their bestselling album yet, and their first #1, the title track. Some low-budget but highly popular videos propelled them into MTV staples, as well.

This album made metal accessible to the mainstream music buyers, and paved the way for the invasion of the Top Forty by Bon Jovi and others. Zen Arcade, Husker Du (SST) This album didn't chart, but that doesn't detract from its importance as a landmark in elevating punk rock from the helpless rage of its previous incarnation into something far more expansive -- and hopeful. Husker Du, a Minneapolis-based trio, had set the thrash-rock standard in 1981 with their debut album; with Zen Arcade the band delivered a powerful message to disaffected youth: It's not enough to scream and rant about the inequities of life. You have to do something about it. As with so many great albums of '84, Husker Du expanded their musical repertoire, borrowing from other genres, including folk and psychedelic rock. Though not a commercial success, the album is undoubtedly a cultural (or subcultural) milestone. Break Out by The Pointer Sisters on Apple Music 10 Songs Album Review By the time the Pointer Sisters unleashed their 1983 Break Out LP, they had racked up six Top Ten singles spread between the pop and R&B charts.

Break Out would prove to be their new wave breakthrough, peppering both charts with five further songs — half the album — while the LP itself spent over a year on the charts. Astute performers, the Pointer Sisters had embraced the 1980s' penchant for synthesized sonics wholeheartedly and used them to fine effect across songs that were upbeat and slick, space-age dance grooves that brought a new dimension to the trio's sound. Both "Jump (For My Love)" and "Automatic" were massive hits during early 1984, as both injected the sisters' trademark harmonies with fresh grooves that culminated in an appealing blend of old and new. "Neutron Dance," meanwhile, with Ruth Pointer's rich lead vocal laying over an extraordinarily snappy and nearly frenetic melody, did double duty, also featuring in the film Beverly Hills Cop. Using those three songs as a springboard, Break Out powers on through one groover after another with few surprises, although "Dance Electric" combines a synthesizer straight out Human League territory with a blistering guitar solo and "Easy Persuasion" emerges as a smoky ballad of sorts.

Although Break Out is a far cry from the Pointer Sisters' earliest intentions, it still charms and pleases. It's a vital part of the early-'80s tapestry, a sonic signpost for the ultimate feel-good generation. Customer Reviews by Rodney kuulei cazimero Yes. Successful job of meshing their gospel type voices with electrnic gimicry. Richard Perry did agreat job. It's sad that one of the sisters is no longer with us. I miss their great music and voices. This is a great balanced package of dance music and slow cuts. Enjoy! Every Song Is Great!! by BlehShmeh Yup, my title says it all!!! Hey Rodney, what the heck are you talking about?? Only June has passed away! Perfection by thisisittt You all know "Jump," "I'm So Excited," "Automatic" and "Neutron Dance," and a whole lot of you even know "I Need You" and "Baby Come and Get It." But every other song on here -- all those not released as singles -- are just as flawless. "Dance Electric" is a rock/soul burner; "Easy Persuasion" has a gorgeous lead vocal by Anita.

"Telegraph Your Love" is catchy as hell, and "Operator" has a smoking-hot groove. This album sold three million copies, and I sure as hell bought more than one because I kept wearing out my cassette tapes of it lol Biography Formed: 1971 in Oakland, CA Genre: R&B/Soul Years Active: '70s, '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s The Pointer Sisters were as chameleonic as David Bowie, if not more so. The sibling group backed Grace Slick and Boz Scaggs, made stops at Sesame Street and the Grand Ole Opry, won a country Grammy, and appeared in the movie Car Wash, all before scoring four consecutive Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 hits in the mid-‘80s. From their early ‘70s releases on Blue Thumb through their ‘80s commercial run on Planet and RCA, the Pointers moved through boogie-woogie, bebop, blues, country, funk, disco, soft rock,... Top Albums and Songs by The Pointer Sisters 1.

The Pointer Sisters - MusicBrainz The Pointer Sisters The Pointer Sisters 1 Showing official release groups by this artist. Show all release groups instead , or show various artists release groups . Artist information Break Out - The Pointer Sisters | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic The Pointer Sisters google+ AllMusic Review by Amy Hanson By the time the Pointer Sisters unleashed their 1983 Break Out LP, they had racked up six Top Ten singles spread between the pop and R&B charts. Break Out would prove to be their new wave breakthrough, peppering both charts with five further songs -- half the album -- while the LP itself spent over a year on the charts. Astute performers, the Pointer Sisters had embraced the 1980s' penchant for synthesized sonics wholeheartedly and used them to fine effect across songs that were upbeat and slick, space-age dance grooves that brought a new dimension to the trio's sound. Both "Jump (For My Love)" and "Automatic" were massive hits during early 1984, as both injected the sisters' trademark harmonies with fresh grooves that culminated in an appealing blend of old and new.

"Neutron Dance," meanwhile, with Ruth Pointer 's rich lead vocal laying over an extraordinarily snappy and nearly frenetic melody, did double duty, also featuring in the film Beverly Hills Cop. Using those three songs as a springboard, Break Out powers on through one groover after another with few surprises, although "Dance Electric" combines a synthesizer straight out Human League territory with a blistering guitar solo and "Easy Persuasion" emerges as a smoky ballad of sorts. Although Break Out is a far cry from the Pointer Sisters ' earliest intentions, it still charms and pleases. It's a vital part of the early-'80s tapestry, a sonic signpost for the ultimate feel-good generation. Track Listing June Pointer of the Pointer Sisters dies - USATODAY.com June Pointer of the Pointer Sisters dies Updated 4/12/2006 1:55 PM ET E-mail | Print | LOS ANGELES (AP)  June Pointer, the youngest of the singing Pointer Sisters known for the 1970s and 1980s hits I'm So Excited, Fire, and Slow Hand, has died, her family said Wednesday. She was 52.

Pointer died of cancer Tuesday at Santa Monica University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, the family said in a statement. She had been hospitalized since late February and the type of cancer wasn't disclosed. She died "in the arms of her sisters, Ruth and Anita and her brothers, Aaron and Fritz, by her side," the family statement read. "Although her sister, Bonnie, was unable to be present, she was with her in spirit." The Pointer Sisters began as a quartet in the early 1970s with sisters Ruth, Anita, Bonnie and June. The group became a trio when Bonnie embarked on a solo career. The group's hits also included He's So Shy, Automatic and Jump (For My Love). The sisters, along with their two older brothers, grew up singing in the choir of an Oakland church where their parents were ministers. Bonnie and June formed a singing duo and began performing in clubs around the San Francisco Bay area. Anita and Ruth later joined the group and together, they sang backup for Taj Mahal, Boz Scaggs and Elvin Bishop, among others.

Their first, self-titled album, The Pointer Sisters, debuted in 1973 and the song Yes We Can Can became their first hit. They followed up with the album That's A Plenty, which featured an eclectic mix of musical styles ranging from jazz to country and pop. They won the first of their three Grammy awards in 1974 for best country vocal performance by a group for the song Fairytale. Bonnie left the group in 1977, and the sisters recorded several more albums, scoring several hit songs that became identified as the soundtrack of the 1980s. The successful 1984 album Break Out earned two Grammy awards for the songs Automatic and Jump (For My Love). The album's other hit song, Neutron Dance, was prominently featured in the movie Beverly Hills Cop. June recorded two solo albums, and later left the trio. Anita and Ruth still perform under the group's name. Ruth's daughter, Issa Pointer, is the trio's newest member. Two years ago, June Pointer was charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor possession of a smoking device. She was ordered to a rehabilitation facility. Funeral arrangements were incomplete.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Posted 4/12/2006 1:50 PM ET Updated 4/12/2006 1:55 PM ET Pointer Sisters – Automatic Lyrics | Genius Lyrics The Evolution of Beyoncé About “Automatic” “Automatic” is a song by the Pointer Sisters, released on the Planet label in January 1984 as the second single from their multi-platinum landmark album Break Out. “Automatic” reached the Top 5 of Billboard’s pop chart and became one of the Pointers' signature tunes. Eventually, three other singles from Break Out reached the Top 10 consecutively. The Pointer Sisters version According to Ruth Pointer of the Pointer Sisters, “Automatic” was a late addition to the Break Out album: “We’d almost finished [the] album and were looking for another tune. We were sitting in a little tiny office on a break and, being the snoops that we are, decided to snoop around this person’s office because we knew that he was the one who was hoarding all the material.

We heard this song” – the demo for “Automatic” had been recorded by its composers Brock Walsh and Mark Goldenberg – “and went: ‘Whoa, this is a really cool song!’” [1] “We took it to [producer Richard Perry] and said ‘Why is this not one of the songs we’re recording?’ He replied ‘Well, it sounds like a guy should be doing it.

Who is going to sing that part?’ Of course, my sisters looked at me immediately and said ‘She can do that!’.” [2] Although Break Out largely comprised dance tracks, its lead single was the ballad “I Need You” chosen by producer Richard Perry in hopes of reinforcing the Pointer Sisters presence at R&B radio: the dance track “Jump (for My Love)” was intended as the second single but the heavy airplay afforded “Automatic” as an album cut by both dance clubs and radio stations caused the substitution of “Automatic” for “Jump…” as the second single release from Break Out, although “Jump…” would become the most successful US single off Break Out when it became the album’s third single.[3] The first Top 40 hit to feature Ruth Pointer’s distinctive contralto on lead, “Automatic” reached #5 on the Hot 100 in Billboard in April 1984, also charting on the magazine’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Dance Club Play rankings, its #2 R&B chart peak making “Automatic” the highest charting R&B hit by the Pointer Sisters as a trio (in their original four-woman format the Pointer Sisters did score an R&B #1 hit with

 “How Long (Betcha' Got a Chick on the Side)”).

In the British Isles “Automatic” would afford the Pointer Sisters their alltime biggest hit spending two weeks at #2 on the UK chart in May 1984 when it also reached #1 in Ireland. “Automatic” also afforded the Pointer Sisters Top Ten success in Belgium (#5 on the Flemish chart), the Netherlands (#9), and New Zealand (#8): in Australia “Automatic” reached a chart peak of #15. The B-side of “Automatic” was “Nightline” featuring June Pointer on lead: “Nightline was also originally feature on Break Out but was dropped from later pressings of the album to allow for the inclusion of the remix of "I’m So Excited”. Credits and personnel Backing vocals – Anita Pointer, June Pointer Record producer – Richard Perry Writer(s) Brock Walsh, Mark Goldenberg Ultra Naté singles chronology “Love’s the Only Drug” (2006) “Automatic” (2007) “Give It All You Got” (2007) Music video “Automatic” on YouTube Ultra Naté covered “Automatic” and released it as the third single from her album Grime, Silk, & Thunder.

Her version topped the US dance chart, hitting number one in the issue dated April 28, 2007. Music video The music video for “Automatic” was directed by Karl Giant.[7] Eric Henderson from Slant Magazine commented of the music video’s beginning: “For the first two or three minutes, it’s nothing if not a stalwart representation of your standard gay-bar video-jukebox fixture.” Ultra Naté is later shown wearing a rhinestone-studded liquid Lycra while two men, apparently nude, watch her on their computers.[8] Then Naté appears in a blow-up doll costume,[7] which Henderson believed “sends the entire video into legitimately weird territory, as though David Meyers were asked to direct a video for Nine Inch Nails.”[8] Track listing “Automatic” (Original Radio Mix) – 3:13 “Automatic” (Morgan Page vs.

Peace Bisquit Radio Mix) – 3:03 “Automatic” (Original Extended) – 6:12 “Automatic” (Daz & Diddy Mix) – 7:17 US CD maxi-single[10] “Automatic” (Digital Dog Mix) – 6:31 “Automatic” (Paul Jackson Version Excursion Mix) – 6:19 “Automatic” (Spen & Thommy Sugar Vocal Mix) – 8:42 “Automatic” (Daz & Diddy Mix) – 7:18 “Automatic” (Funky Junction & NK Club Mix) – 6:29 “Automatic” (Funky Junction & Splashfunk Mix) – 6:53 “Automatic” (Monkey Brothers Ultra Bad Remix) – 8:40 “Automatic” (Dave Pezza Electro Dub Mix) – 9:30 “Automatic” (Shawn Q’s Soltribe Vocal Mix) – 8:47 “Automatic” (Morgan Page vs.

Peace Bisquit Radio Mix) – 3:04 Charts Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[11] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] 86 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[11] 5 US Hot Dance Airplay (Billboard) 18 US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[12] 1 Cover versions and adaptations Occasionally around 1990, the instrumental parts of the song were used as prize music, notably for jukeboxes and stereos, on the US version of The Price Is Right. In 1987, "Automatic" is featured in the made-for-television reunion film The Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman (1987). In 1991, the song was featured in the film Ricochet, and can be heard at the beginning after the basketball game. The song "Automatic" was featured on the soundtrack of the popular 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

In 2006, Belgian singer Afi covered "Automatic".[13] Her version became a minor hit in Belgium, where it reached top twenty on the Flanders Ultratip chart.[14] In 2008, "Automatic" was covered by UK rock supergroup Hot Leg (the band led by former lead singer of The Darkness, Justin Hawkins) on their I've Met Jesus EP.[15] References “Still So Excited: an interview with Ruth Pointer”. PopMatters.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015. “Soul Deep with natural-born singer Ruth Pointer”. NewsPaperpost.com. Retrieved 13 August 2015. Billboard vol 96 No. 46 (17 November 1984) p. 78 “Dutchcharts.nl – Pointer Sisters – Automatic”. Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-26. “Chart Stats – The Pointer Sisters – Automatic”. Chart Stats. Retrieved 2011-04-25. “Automatic – The Pointer Sisters”. Billboard. Rovi Corporation.

Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-25. Slompwicz, DJ Ron (2007-05-25). “Ultra Naté – Grime, Silk & Thunder Interview”. About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2011-04-23. Henderson, Eric (2007-05-07). “Ultra Naté: Grime Silk Thunder”. Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2011-04-25. “Ultra Naté – Automatic (CD) at Discogs”. Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 2011-04-25. “Ultra Naté – Automatic (CD) at Discogs”. Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 2011-04-25. “Spanishcharts.com – Ultra Naté – Automatic”. Canciones Top 50. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-25. “Club Music, Hot Dance Songs, Club Songs, Dance Club Music Charts”.

Billboard. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on 1 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-25. “Afi (4) – Automatic (CD) at Discogs”. Discogs. Zinc Media, Inc. Retrieved 2011-04-26. “Ultratop.be – Afi (BE) – Automatic”. Ultratip (in Dutch). ULTRATOP & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2011-04-26. Maura (2009-01-27). “Hot Leg Decide To Cool Down With Some Assless Chaps”. Idolator. Retrieved 2011-04-25.

External links June Pointer, Singer With the Pointer Sisters, Dies at 52 - Obituary (Obit); Biography - NYTimes.com June Pointer, Singer With the Pointer Sisters, Dies at 52 Published: April 13, 2006 June Pointer, the youngest of the singing Pointer Sisters, known for the 1970's and 80's hits ''I'm So Excited,'' ''Fire'' and ''Slow Hand,'' died at a hospital in Santa Monica on Tuesday. She was 52. Ms. Pointer died of cancer, her family said in a statement. She had been hospitalized since late February. The Pointer Sisters began as a quartet in the early 1970's, including Ruth, Anita, Bonnie and June Pointer. The group became a trio when Bonnie began a solo career. The group's hits also included ''He's So Shy,'' ''Automatic'' and ''Jump (For My Love).'' The sisters, along with their older brothers, Aaron and Fritz, grew up singing in the choir of their father's church in Oakland, Calif. Bonnie and June formed a duo and began singing in clubs around the San Francisco Bay area.

Anita and Ruth later joined the group and together they sang backup for Taj Mahal, Boz Scaggs and Elvin Bishop, among others. Their first album, ''The Pointer Sisters,'' was released in 1973, and the song ''Yes We Can Can'' became their first hit. They followed up with the album ''That's a Plenty,'' which had an eclectic mix of musical styles including jazz, country and pop. They won the first of three Grammy Awards in 1974 for best country vocal performance by a group for the song ''Fairytale.'' Bonnie left the group in 1977, and the other sisters recorded several more albums; some of their hits became part of the soundtrack of the 1980's. The successful 1983 album ''Break Out'' earned two Grammys in 1984 for ''Automatic'' and ''Jump (For My Love).'' The album's other hit song, ''Neutron Dance,'' was prominently featured in the 1984 movie ''Beverly Hills Cop.'' June recorded two solo albums, and later left the trio. Nearly two years ago, she was charged with felony cocaine possession and misdemeanor possession of a smoking device.

She was ordered to a rehabilitation center. Anita and Ruth still perform under the group's name. Ruth's daughter, Issa Pointer, is the trio's newest member. Photo: Members of the Pointer Sisters in 1990, from left, June, Anita and Ruth, who began their hitmaking career in the choir of their father's church. (Photo by Wyatt Counts/Associated Press) Break Out - Microsoft Store Break Out 1983 • 10 songs • Pop • Contemporary Pop • RCA Records Label By the time the Pointer Sisters unleashed their 1983 Break Out LP, they had racked up six Top Ten singles spread between the pop and R&B charts. Break Out would prove to be their new wave breakthrough, peppering both charts with five further songs -- half the album -- while the LP itself spent over a year on the charts. Astute performers, the Pointer Sisters had embraced the 1980s' penchant for synthesized sonics wholeheartedly and used them to fine effect across songs that were upbeat and slick, space-age dance grooves that brought a new dimension to the trio's sound.

Both "Jump (For My Love)" and "Automatic" were massive hits during early 1984, as both injected the sisters' trademark harmonies with fresh grooves that culminated in an appealing blend of old and new. "Neutron Dance," meanwhile, with Ruth Pointer's rich lead vocal laying over an extraordinarily snappy and nearly frenetic melody, did double duty, also featuring in the film Beverly Hills Cop. Using those three songs as a springboard, Break Out powers on through one groover after another with few surprises, although "Dance Electric" combines a synthesizer straight out Human League territory with a blistering guitar solo and "Easy Persuasion" emerges as a smoky ballad of sorts. Although Break Out is a far cry from the Pointer Sisters ' earliest intentions, it still charms and pleases. It's a vital part of the early-'80s tapestry, a sonic signpost for the ultimate feel-good generation. ~ Amy Hanson THE POINTER SISTERS Lyrics – Lyricszoo Sign in The Pointer Sisters Lyrics Follow The Pointer Sisters are an American R&B singing group from Oakland, California, that achieved mainstream success during the 1970s and 1980s.

Spanning over four decades, their repertoire has included such diverse genres as pop, disco, jazz, electronic music, bebop, blues, soul, funk, dance, country and rock. The Pointer Sisters have won three Grammy Awards and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. The group had 13 US top 20 hits between 1973 and 1985. The group had its origins when sisters June and Bonnie Pointer began performing in clubs in 1969 as "Pointers, a Pair". The line-up grew to a trio when sister Anita Pointer joined them. They scored a record deal with Atlantic Records and released several unsuccessful singles. The trio grew to a quartet when sister Ruth joined in December 1972. They then signed with Blue Thumb Records, recorded their debut album, and began seeing more success, winning a Grammy Award in 1975 for Best Country Vocal Performance for "Fairytale" (1974). Bonnie left the group in 1978 to commence a solo career with only modest success.

The group achieved its greatest commercial success as a trio during the 1980s consisting of the line-up of June, Ruth, and Anita, winning two more Grammys for the top 10 hits "Jump (for My Love)" (1984) and "Automatic" (1984). The group's other U.S. top 10 hits are "Fire" (1979), "He's So Shy" (1980), "Slow Hand" (1981), the remixed version of "I'm So Excited" (1984) and "Neutron Dance" (1985). June Pointer, the youngest sister, struggled with drug addiction for much of her career, leaving the group in April 2004 and dying from extensive cancer in April 2006, at the age of 52. She was replaced by Ruth's daughter Issa Pointer. This trio had a number two hit in Belgium in 2005, covering "Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves" with Belgian singer Natalia.

Since 2009, the group has consisted of Anita, Ruth, Issa, and Ruth's granddaughter Sadako Pointer. While all four women remain in the group, they most often perform as a trio rotating the lineup as needed. Pointer Sisters’ youngest member dead at 52 - TODAY.com Today.com Pointer Sisters’ youngest member dead at 52 2006-04-12T18:05:27.000Z comment () June Pointer, the youngest of the singing Pointer Sisters known for the 1970s and 1980s hits "I'm So Excited," "Fire," and "Slow Hand," has died, her family said Wednesday. She was 52. Pointer died of cancer Tuesday at Santa Monica University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center, the family said in a statement. She had been hospitalized since late February and the type of cancer wasn't disclosed. She died "in the arms of her sisters, Ruth and Anita and her brothers, Aaron and Fritz, by her side," the family statement read.

"Although her sister, Bonnie, was unable to be present, she was with her in spirit." The Pointer Sisters began as a quartet in the early 1970s with sisters Ruth, Anita, Bonnie and June. The group became a trio when Bonnie embarked on a solo career. The group's hits also included "He's So Shy," "Automatic" and "Jump (For My Love)." The sisters, along with their two older brothers, grew up singing in the choir of an Oakland church where their parents were ministers. Slideshow Neil P. Mockford / GC Images Celebrity Sightings Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. on the "Let's Be Cops," red carpet, Selena Gomez is immortalized in wax and more. Celebrity Sightings of Idris Elba - Actor Idris Elba seen on the set of :A Hundred Streets" on Aug. 8 in London. Getty Images / Getty Images of Elisabeth Moss, Mark Duplass - Actors Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass arrive at the premiere of RADIUS-TWC's "The One I Love" at the Vista Theatre on Aug. 7 in Los Angeles.

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Question: Which sibling trio had top ten hits in 1984 with "Automatic" and "Jump"?
Answer: Pointer Sisters